Saturday, October 6, 2012

I know! It looks kind of like a golf course, so I forgive you if you mistake it for one. Actually, though, it's a parking lot.

It's in the Arroyo Seco just north of the Rose Bowl Stadium. If you think the Arroyo Seco is a great place for area residents to ride a bike, walk, play soccer, or take their kids swimming or to the Kidspace Museum, once again, I forgive you, because once again, you are incorrect. The Arroyo Seco is off limits to Pasadena residents.

Unless, of course, they have a ticket to the NFL game.

I don't care if you pay taxes. I don't care if you vote. If you don't shell out for that ticket you don't matter around here, so quit yer bellyachin' and go ride yer bike around Victory Park.

That's the scenario, folks. Eight hours before game time, you and your kids and your bike and your soccer ball are out of the Arroyo. It does not belong to us. It belongs to the NFL and thousands upon thousands of cars and people and all the trash and pollution they bring with them. For those who live near the Arroyo, the nightmare of trying to navigate your own street is only the beginning.

Friday, October 5, 2012

"This castle is the Chateau de Bon Reve in Sulphur, Louisiana," he says. I worked very hard and hope you enjoy my entry! :)"

Anthony told me that because the Chateau is private property he had some explaining to do in order to gain entry and take the pictures. I'm glad the owners were nice about it! He got two shots on the property. Since only one entry is allowed
per person, he chose this as is his contest entry, and allowed me to
post the other on my website.

Thank you for your entry, Anthony!

***************

Are
you ready for the weekend? It's almost time to vote. The poll will
appear at upper left tonight, before I go to bed. Be sure to vote over the weekend for your favorite
of
this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine
upon publication this month.
Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day
for entries.

The last date for entries will be publication day, but now's the time to send in your photo because the rate of entries is winding down. Camelot Where You Are can be anything--a
sign, a symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination sees.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

"Couldn't resist taking a picture of this sign for your competition," says Deb of Ginnels Gates and Ghosts, the daily photo blog in York, England. "I came across it completely by accident as I was driving home by a very roundabout route this week. Merlin International Trading Limited will apparently service your car as if by magic! Their company sign is the man himself, looking I must say rather sinister as he strikes sparks off a car wheel."

Thank you, Deb!

******************

Enter
the Camelot Where You Are photo contest by sending in a picture of your
interpretation of Camelot where you are. It can be anything--a sign, a
symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination tells you.

Send in your photo, then be sure to vote over the coming weekend for your favorite of
this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine
upon publication in October.
Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day
for entries.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Chieftess didn't say much about her entry when she sent it in. But I know a few things about it because she posted it along with another photo on her blog, Mammoth Lakes Daily Photo, asking readers to help choose her entry by voting.

"...being in the mountains," says Chieftess, "there's not much in the way of castles, or knights, or shields, or really much of anything that could

Send in a picture of your
interpretation of Camelot where you are. It can be anything--a building, a toy, a work of nature--whatever your imagination tells you.

Then be sure to vote over the weekend for your favorite of
this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine
upon publication this month.
Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day
for entries.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Katie's entry is the House of Shields."Camelot needs an official cocktail lounge," says Katie, "so I suggest House of Shields in San Francisco, California. Although this bar is new by some standards (it dates from 1908), it's actually timeless as there are no clocks or TVs inside! Click on the gallery link at the website to see the beautiful vintage wooden bar, and the gorgeous original mosaic floor that would be right at home in any castle. I was here recently and noticed there was definitely a place for knights to leave their armor while having a drink!"I want to know where the knights leave their armor, don't you?Thank you, Katie!

******************

Enter
the Camelot Where You Are photo contest by sending in a picture of Camelot where you are. It can be anything--a sign, a
symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination tells you. It's easy to enter and anyone can do it. Entry details are here.

Then be sure to vote over the coming weekend for your favorite of
this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine
upon publication later this month.
Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day
for entries.

Monday, October 1, 2012

"This castellated folly castle overlooking Godley Brook lies in the back garden of Brookbank House. The house was built in 1837 by Joseph Hibbert, the sixth of fourteen children of Randal Hibbert. The Hibbert family of Godley played an important part in the history of Hyde and its neighbourhood, figuring amongst the pioneers of the cotton industry.

"The castle folly was probably built around the mid part of the 19th century. In the mid-1990s there were plans by the then owners to restore the building and open it up to the public.

"Now it belongs to the Brookbank Day Nursery and public access to the folly is not permitted. It can however be viewed from the footpath on the North side of the Godley Brook."

Thank you, Gerald!

**************

WELL.

Way past coffee time, sorry about that. Long story.

Drum roll....

And last week's winner is lucky #13, Virginia, with Quinlan Castle in Birmingham, Alabama! Virginia wins a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, as soon as it's published. Thank you, Virginia, and thank you all, for your wonderful entries!

Here's the poll:

Today is also theme day at City Daily Photo, but I decided to continue the Camelot Where You Are photo contest because it's going so well. If you're planning to enter, now's the time! Send in a photo of the Camelot you find in your life. It can be a toy. It can be a building or an event, a shield, a maiden, a sword...anything! (I found Avalon cream rinse in my shower the other day). Contest details are here.

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, which is coming out this month. I think! I hope to have more specific news about that very soon.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

I haven't taken a day off in a long time, perhaps months. I don't remember how long it's been. I've been getting the book ready, plus I stare at the computer screen a lot and trying to drum up ideas (which, in my line of work, is the hopeful equivalent of drumming up business).

But Bellis knows my weakness: "Would Boz like a day at the beach?" she asked.

Boz doesn't have as much energy as he used to, but he's still a dog. Dogs love routine, but they also love novelty (go figure). When I spend all that time at the computer, he naps in his sunny spot. He gets walks, he gets playdates, but he doesn't often get novelty. And he loves the beach.